Top 10 Boredom Busters In and Around Sandbridge Beach

Rent a canoe or kayak from Surf & Adventure Co. and take their two-hour guided tour of the quiet tributaries that run through the refuge to the Atlantic Ocean. Your guide will help you identify all the magnificent birds and wildlife that become active in cooler temperatures.

If you're feeling more adventurous, take an ocean kayak tour. You'll likely spot dolphins and pelagic birds as you cruise the quiet waters of the coast. For a special treat, book the Blue Pete's kayak tour. This one-way paddle begins in Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and ends at Blue Pete's restaurant around sunset. Have dinner, then catch your ride back to your car at the refuge. 

• Learn to Surf or Paddleboard

Waters around Sandbridge Beach are still warm enough in early fall to surf or paddleboard, though you might want to rent a thin wetsuit. Sandbridge Beach has gentle waves and a sandy bottom, making it the ideal place for beginning paddleboarders or surfers. You can rent surfboards and paddleboards by the day or week, and some outfitters even deliver right to your cottage.

Hike Off the Beaten Path

• Hike or Camp False Cape State Park

The East and West Dike Trail to False Cape State Park is open until October 31. False Cape State Park is accessible only by foot or by boat, so this is a truly special bucket list trip. There are a few primitive campsites in the park, and staying overnight allows visitors to experience the absolute quiet and stunning starlight displays that day visitors miss. False Cape also features the ruins of a church and cemetery that are worth exploring. Prefer a bed to a sleeping bag? Day hikers who take the 7.6-mile coastal trail hike in Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge can see white-tailed deer, multiple species of birds, migrating waterfowl, foxes, rabbits, and the occasional sea turtle. This hike will take you through diverse ecologies such as beaches, sand dunes, fields, marshes, and woodlands so you can kiss boredom goodbye.

• Go Offshore Fishing

In fall, offshore fishing boat captains know where to find schools of wahoo, mahi mahi, and yellowfin tuna. Offshore fishing is an exciting way to spend a day on the open ocean, and you'll likely see dolphins and soaring seabirds throughout your trip. Most charter operators will clean your catch for you, so all you have to do is fire up the grill when you get home.

• See Wild Horses

Just 45 minutes from Sandbridge Beach you can pick up the Liquid Limo water taxi at Knott's Island. In a short 10-minute ride across the Currituck Sound to Corolla, you'll arrive at the home of the famous wild horses. It's best to join a tour group with access to 4-wheel-drive vehicles and local knowledge.

• Explore Virginia Beach

The resort town of Virginia Beach is just a few miles away, and there are enough exciting things to do to keep you busy for a month of days.

• Indoor Skydiving

You don't need any experience to learn how to "skydive" at iFLY. Indoor skydiving is made possible through vertical wind tunnels that create a smooth column of air that simulates free fall. It's all the fun of skydiving without jumping out of a plane.

• Virginia Beach Hang Gliding

Take a break from the water and see Virginia Beach from the air. Hang gliding is one of the most popular new activities near Sandbridge Beach, and nothing disrupts boredom like soaring high above the Earth in a nylon sling.

• The Adventure Park and Virginia Aquarium

Traverse an aerial treetop park at The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium. There are 15 elevated trails here that connect platforms through the woods around the aquarium. You'll climb, walk, swing, and zip through 165 crossings in the 6-acre park. Our favorite way to experience the park is to spend a couple of hours in the aquarium in late afternoon, then navigate the specially lighted trails as the sun sets. Fall boredom setting in? Plan your trip to Sandbridge Beach and sneak in some exciting adventures before the holidays.